The day Sensei’s power was transferred to Kousuke-kun.
Chako apparently remained at Tomoyuki-san’s house.
She came to school the next morning with her usual liveliness and laughed “Sorry for worrying you!”
Since then, 2 months had passed.
Kousuke-kun who didn’t appear at school for a while, has started attending school again.
It seems that he continued to train with Yuusei-kun and became able to adapt his own power.
Sensei’s condition is good too.
We were able to save the two with everyone’s power, without sacrificing anyone.
That makes me truly happy.
I finally reached this point, after hurting many people and moving around selfishly.
Although there’s still a long way to go before my goal, the sensation of progressing step by step heats up and warms my heart.
I’ll work hard.
It’s the Cultural Festival today.
There were many occasions when this day became the boundary which distanced Chako and I.
However, I absolutely don’t want to let go of Chako’s hand this time.
I’ll pull Chako along.
I renew my resolution while pushing on with the Student Council’s preparations for the Cultural Festival.
Today will surely be a fateful day.
If found outside of nakimushitl.wordpress.com this has been stolen
The day of the Cultural Festival.
The days of continuously checking documents and requests, and confirming the actual locations ended. Today, the opening day, we’re topsy-turvy with patrolling, correcting problems that arise presently and whatnot.
In such a situation, the Calligraphy Club raised a request as they don’t have enough of the lumber that’s to be used in the calligraphy meet this afternoon.
I relay that to Tomotaka-senpai and we head to the lumber storage together.
A Calligraphy Club member is already there when we reach the classroom where the lumber is kept.
The Calligraphy Club member seems tensed as she converses with Tomotaka-senpai, and is somewhat awkward.
Then, she tries to grab the required lumber――and has a colossal fall.
As she fell while touching the lumber, the lumber that were set against each other fall in succession, landing one on top of another like toppling dominoes.
And the spot they topple towards is――
“… Here it comes.”
“Watch out!”
Tomotaka-senpai and I.
The lumber that lost its balance fell towards us.
This is already the third time, huh. A part of me thinks as though it’s someone else’s business as I raise a barrier around me.
Along with the tremendous sound of falling lumber, is an anxious voice.
While listening to them, I let the lumber falling at me pass by the barrier and move it once things have calmed.
“You appear fine…”
“I’m the Priestess of Ominous Clouds after all… Senpai, sorry. You tried to protect me.”
Beside me, Tomotaka-senpai looks at me worriedly.
Having raised a barrier, I wasn’t hurt or crushed by the lumber.
Tomotaka-senpai, however, tried to protect me on the spur. There’s a bit of blood on his right hand.
“Is your hand, alright?”
“Yeah… Pathetic, I misjudged.”
“That is not true. It is good that the injury is only to this extent.”
After all, my barrier was made because I knew what was going to happen.
The chant was already prepared so I was able to deploy it immediately but I believe it would have been impossible otherwise.
Tomotaka-senpai received an injury of only this extent even though part of his attention was on me. That’s plenty amazing.
“Did something happen?”
A voice calls out from the back of the classroom while I’m looking at the injury on Tomotaka-senpai’s hand.
It’s Kousuke-kun’s voice…
Kousuke-kun’s brows knit as he looks at the scattered lumber on the floor.
Behind him is the stupefied Chako who can’t enter the classroom.
I call that name softly.
However, Chako gives no reaction.
Her eyes are shining fierily, glued to Tomotaka-senpai.
It’s not the usual, beautiful deep blue.
Golden eyes are focused in this direction.
Chako’s been looking here for a while but tight furrows form between her brows and she runs away as though trying to shake something off.
Seeing that, I chase her as though I was drawn.
“Oi, Naba! What happened?”
Kousuke-kun seizes my right arm when I try to pass by his side.
I give a small nod to the anxious-looking Kousuke-kun.
“Kousuke-kun. I must go after Chako. Sorry about this but can I ask you to tidy up here?”
“… Will it be okay?”
“Un.”
“… Got it.”
I stare firmly at Kousuke-kun’s amber eyes.
Kousuke-kun closes his eyes momentarily, gives a small nod, and lets go of my arm.
I turn back, and call out to Tomotaka-senpai too.
“Senpai, I’ll have to leave the Cultural Festival and handling of instructions to you.”
“… I know.”
Tomotaka-senpai lets out a small breath at my words and walks to the Calligraphy Club member apologising profusely with tears in her eyes.
Seeing that, I turn my feet towards the direction Chako ran in.
Leaving the classroom and running through the corridor.
At the back of the club building some distance away from the sports ground.
Chako should be there.
I run full speed while suppressing my impatient heart.
At the back of the club building I finally reach, is Chako who seems to be embracing herself.
That appearance is one of desperate endurance, hurting the heart of even I, the one watching.
“Chako.”
Chako’s body jumps with a shudder when I call her name softly.
I slowly approach while looking at the Chako curling herself up as though in fright.
I finally arrived here.
I won’t let you escape――again.
I sit down in front of Chako who becomes smaller as she hugs herself.
Then, I gently hug her.
I can feel Chako’s body trembling faintly but without minding it, I send power in and peek inside her.
Inside Chako, a black miasma seems close to rioting as it spins in an oval shape.
Surely, she’s frantically suppressing the power that’s close to rioting.
I start to interfere with that spinning black miasma by sending power gently, the way Tomoyuki-san taught.
Chako’s power is different from normal phantoms.
I can’t suppress or grant her power on a fundamental level.
However, I can at least adjust its flow.
The method Tomoyuki-san used when Sensei’s power was transferred to Kousuke-kun.
Tomoyuki-san told me about it.
So that I can help Chako feel better, even just a little.
Stroking Chako’s back slowly, I adjust so that the oval becomes more of a circle.
Chako probably feels her power calming down a little.
Her body that was stiff at first relaxes and she breathes.
“W, hy…”
Chako’s grazed voice resounds.
“Why… of all, people… It was Yui-chan who came?”
A pained voice.
Stiffly and tightly closed eyes.
A line that seems to blame me.
As though to say “Stop it”.
As though to say “Leave me alone”.
Chako’s desperately trying to distance herself from me.
“Chako, I, said I won’t wait, didn’t I?”[1]
You can’t, Chako.
You can’t go
“I will continue to attack even if you don’t resolve yourself, Chako.”
“… You did say that.”
Listening to Chako’s grazed voice, I strengthen my hold on her.
“Un. I won’t stop even if you ask me to. I won’t leave you alone even if you ask me to.”
That’s why, Chako.
Prepare yourself.
Tell me everything.
“I, want to know about Chako.”
I turned back time again and again, and arrived here.
I got everyone involved, and swayed Chako continuously.
All of it, all of it.
Was surely for today.
“Please tell me… Please tell me, Chako.”
If I let her escape today, there’s no next time.
My voice becomes grazed when I think that.
It sounds so unreliable…
Chako gives a small sigh at my miserable voice.
“Oh… well.
The sound of Chako’s resignation fills the air.
“Fine, Yui-chan…”
Muttering “I was planning to escape till the end though”――
Chako chews her lips once.
Then, conveying slowly with a trembling voice.
“… I. Lied, to Yui-chan.”
She mumbles softly.
[1] Chapter 21.2
The words Chako’s finally willing to say.
『Lied to』
“Yui-chan, I’m, a phantom… I’m just here because Tomotaka-sama ordered me. He told me to get close to Yui-chan. I only became your friend because I was told to obstruct the phantoms that approach you.”
With her eyes closed tightly, Chako conveys indifferently and emotionlessly.
I know.
I know everything, Chako.
I know everything she said.
Even then, having Chako tell me herself pricks my chest with pain.
“Un.”
I give a small nod while holding my hurt chest.
Hearing such a voice from me, Chako chews her lips again before speaking.
That voice somehow seems to sound irritated.
“I don’t have to right to have Yui-chan treat me like this. Plots and schemes. They’re why I’m with Yui-chan.”
“Un.”
“My feelings aren’t pure. They’re dirty, and dark… Not suitable for Yui-chan at all. I’m the worst friend.”
“Un.”
“All I did was obstruct Yui-chan. Because of me, you’re dealing with troubles you don’t have to…!”
So go away.
Surely, that’s what Chako’s saying.
However, I hug Chako even tighter.
I won’t leave.
I won’t let you be alone anymore.
I only nod at Chako’s words.
“Un.”
Sorry. Sorry for letting you be alone for so long.
The 1st round, I didn’t even realise Chako was shivering here alone.
The 2nd round, I lost to my own heart and abandoned Chako even though she was suffering in front of me.
The 3rd round, I only watched Chako run off from afar.
The 4th round, I had my hands full with myself and didn’t even make it to the Cultural Festival with Chako.
In the 5th round, even if I made it to the Cultural Festival, I would probably have not cared and pretended that it wasn’t my business.
I’m no good at all.
I didn’t even realise this even though I want to save Chako.
That Chako’s here alone.
She’s here, golden eyes trembling.
I shouldn’t have left such a Chako alone.
“… Don’t go “Un”. You can be more angry… say I’m the worst, say you hate me…”
You can be more angry too, Chako.
“Un.”
“… What do you mean by “Un”.
“Un.”
“… Idiot.”
“Un.”
“Softhearted.”
“Un.”
“Overbearing.”
“Un.”
“… Idiot.”
“Un.”
“Idiot.”
“Un.”
“Idiot.”
I suddenly feel a gaze as I listen to Chako while stroking her back.
Looking down, Chako’s golden eyes are shaking as they look at me.
Ah. Gold is pretty too[1].
“Chako. It’s okay. It’s totally okay.”
I chuckle while looking at those eyes.
“There’s no way I’ll hate Chako because of that.”
When I say while looking firmly at the golden eyes, Chako’s eyes widen greatly.
If I can hate you because of that, I’d have come to hate you long ago.
I’m working so hard because I can’t give up on you, Chako.
“Also, Chako, you said nothing but “idiot” by the end, you know?
When I laugh playfully, Chako laughs with a face on the verge of tears.
Then, her golden eyes close slowly.
The back of the club building is shadowy and the sunshine doesn’t reach.
The Cultural Festival venue is far too, so we can barely hear the bustle.
There’s only Chako and I.
I hug the Chako sitting on the ground.
The skirt of my uniform is stained with dirt and a strong wind blows at times.
I part my body from Chako, and grasp my own hand.
Nails eat into the back of my hand.
I take a deep breath, once, while feeling that pain.
“Chako… um, there’s something I must tell you too.”
Chako finally told me.
Of her own volition, she said that she’s Tomotaka-senpai’s familiar.
My heart hurt a little from that, but I think I received it properly.
A ‘me’ that was able to be with Chako without being shaken.
Because I already knew.
That Chako’s a familiar.
I wanted to be such a ‘me’, who isn’t easily shaken, to Chako. But I’m not.
Chako said she was dirty, but I’m the same.
I’m surely much dirtier than Chako.
“I knew… that Chako’s a familiar.”
“… Sure enough.”
”As expected”, goes Chako as she breathes out.
I give a small nod to that, and mutter “Sorry”.
“But, I wasn’t able to tell Chako… Because I thought that we wouldn’t be able to grow close if I told you.”
“… I see.”
“I… wanted to be close to Chako. I wanted, to do lots of fun things.”
“… Didn’t you hate it? I, tricked and approached you, you know?”
Golden eyes looking at me questioningly.
“Although I thought that Yui-chan might have known about me… but, maybe not why I approached you… So, I thought that maybe you don’t know after all. But…”
“Un. I knew. Even then, I want to be with Chako.”
Chako’s words become abstruse midway.
I nod to that and supplement my words.
“When I first knew Chako… as expected, I thought that I was betrayed. I thought that you were awful.”
Chako has been lying.
My heart had hurt the more I thought about that.
Even more so… because our time together was fun.
“… I, like it when everyone gathers. For example, playing games at Tomoyuki-san’s house or eating snacks.”
Eating popsicles, and going to the pool.
I really enjoyed myself.
I’m glad I didn’t give up, in the 5th round.
I’m glad I’m greedy.
“So, lies or truths. Leave those aside.”
I chuckle at the golden eyes that stare at me motionlessly.
“There’s no one who only lies, or only say the truth. Everyone, while shouldering various things, are doing what they can in their respective standpoints.”
Yes. It’s not just Chako.
Everyone and I have things we can tell others.
“Even if everyone lies… we gather to play like this right now. I like that. I want to stay together from now on.”
It’s not important whether the days with everyone are lies.
“It’s okay to know only one side of everyone. I’m fine if I enjoy it and want to be together. I believe you all whom I think of that way.”
If you want to be with someone, you can only believe them.
Because there’s no point doubting or condemning them.
“I know, about Chako. It may be just one side but… Even then, Chako gave me lots of smiles. Gave me a lot of happiness.”
Chako protected me.
It’s unnecessary to negate all our days because there were lies… or secrets.
“I want to be with Chako. That’s why… I’ll believe Chako.”
I smile with all I have but, it may have turned a little weird.
Pathetic, huh?
Why didn’t I believe Chako immediately in the 2nd round?
Always unerring, and able to pick out the right answer immediately.
I wanted to be like that.
I, have been full of mistakes.
I finally arrived here after detours.
“I won’t let you be alone anymore. For sure.”
For sure.
Wanting to convey my feelings better, I seize tightly the hands Chako crossed in front of her knees.
After Chako stares at such a me, she laughs with a face on the verge of tears.
“… I wonder why, Yui-chan’s here for me.”
“… Because Chako is here for me.”
Then, that line again.
I laughed “It can’t be helped, huh?” and repeat the same words.
Chako nods to that, with a small, “Un.”
“Yui-chan… There’s something I want to tell Yui-chan.”
Golden eyes sway anxiously.
That’s why, wanting to convey that it’s okay, I strengthen my hold on her hands.
“Chako can tell me anything, if it’s about you… Because I’ll, believe it all.”
“Un…”
Chako breathes out a little at my words.
Then, after closing her eyes once, they open and look at me.
“Yui-chan… I want to tell you my secret.”
[1] The villainess’ eyes are blue.
The day Sensei’s power was transferred to Kousuke-kun.
Chako apparently remained at Tomoyuki-san’s house.
She came to school the next morning with her usual liveliness and laughed “Sorry for worrying you!”
Since then, 2 months had passed.
Kousuke-kun who didn’t appear at school for a while, has started attending school again.
It seems that he continued to train with Yuusei-kun and became able to adapt his own power.
Sensei’s condition is good too.
We were able to save the two with everyone’s power, without sacrificing anyone.
That makes me truly happy.
I finally reached this point, after hurting many people and moving around selfishly.
Although there’s still a long way to go before my goal, the sensation of progressing step by step heats up and warms my heart.
I’ll work hard.
It’s the Cultural Festival today.
There were many occasions when this day became the boundary which distanced Chako and I.
However, I absolutely don’t want to let go of Chako’s hand this time.
I’ll pull Chako along.
I renew my resolution while pushing on with the Student Council’s preparations for the Cultural Festival.
Today will surely be a fateful day.
If found outside of nakimushitl.wordpress.com this has been stolen
The day of the Cultural Festival.
The days of continuously checking documents and requests, and confirming the actual locations ended. Today, the opening day, we’re topsy-turvy with patrolling, correcting problems that arise presently and whatnot.
In such a situation, the Calligraphy Club raised a request as they don’t have enough of the lumber that’s to be used in the calligraphy meet this afternoon.
I relay that to Tomotaka-senpai and we head to the lumber storage together.
A Calligraphy Club member is already there when we reach the classroom where the lumber is kept.
The Calligraphy Club member seems tensed as she converses with Tomotaka-senpai, and is somewhat awkward.
Then, she tries to grab the required lumber――and has a colossal fall.
As she fell while touching the lumber, the lumber that were set against each other fall in succession, landing one on top of another like toppling dominoes.
And the spot they topple towards is――
“… Here it comes.”
“Watch out!”
Tomotaka-senpai and I.
The lumber that lost its balance fell towards us.
This is already the third time, huh. A part of me thinks as though it’s someone else’s business as I raise a barrier around me.
Along with the tremendous sound of falling lumber, is an anxious voice.
While listening to them, I let the lumber falling at me pass by the barrier and move it once things have calmed.
“You appear fine…”
“I’m the Priestess of Ominous Clouds after all… Senpai, sorry. You tried to protect me.”
Beside me, Tomotaka-senpai looks at me worriedly.
Having raised a barrier, I wasn’t hurt or crushed by the lumber.
Tomotaka-senpai, however, tried to protect me on the spur. There’s a bit of blood on his right hand.
“Is your hand, alright?”
“Yeah… Pathetic, I misjudged.”
“That is not true. It is good that the injury is only to this extent.”
After all, my barrier was made because I knew what was going to happen.
The chant was already prepared so I was able to deploy it immediately but I believe it would have been impossible otherwise.
Tomotaka-senpai received an injury of only this extent even though part of his attention was on me. That’s plenty amazing.
“Did something happen?”
A voice calls out from the back of the classroom while I’m looking at the injury on Tomotaka-senpai’s hand.
It’s Kousuke-kun’s voice…
Kousuke-kun’s brows knit as he looks at the scattered lumber on the floor.
Behind him is the stupefied Chako who can’t enter the classroom.
I call that name softly.
However, Chako gives no reaction.
Her eyes are shining fierily, glued to Tomotaka-senpai.
It’s not the usual, beautiful deep blue.
Golden eyes are focused in this direction.
Chako’s been looking here for a while but tight furrows form between her brows and she runs away as though trying to shake something off.
Seeing that, I chase her as though I was drawn.
“Oi, Naba! What happened?”
Kousuke-kun seizes my right arm when I try to pass by his side.
I give a small nod to the anxious-looking Kousuke-kun.
“Kousuke-kun. I must go after Chako. Sorry about this but can I ask you to tidy up here?”
“… Will it be okay?”
“Un.”
“… Got it.”
I stare firmly at Kousuke-kun’s amber eyes.
Kousuke-kun closes his eyes momentarily, gives a small nod, and lets go of my arm.
I turn back, and call out to Tomotaka-senpai too.
“Senpai, I’ll have to leave the Cultural Festival and handling of instructions to you.”
“… I know.”
Tomotaka-senpai lets out a small breath at my words and walks to the Calligraphy Club member apologising profusely with tears in her eyes.
Seeing that, I turn my feet towards the direction Chako ran in.
Leaving the classroom and running through the corridor.
At the back of the club building some distance away from the sports ground.
Chako should be there.
I run full speed while suppressing my impatient heart.
At the back of the club building I finally reach, is Chako who seems to be embracing herself.
That appearance is one of desperate endurance, hurting the heart of even I, the one watching.
“Chako.”
Chako’s body jumps with a shudder when I call her name softly.
I slowly approach while looking at the Chako curling herself up as though in fright.
I finally arrived here.
I won’t let you escape――again.
I sit down in front of Chako who becomes smaller as she hugs herself.
Then, I gently hug her.
I can feel Chako’s body trembling faintly but without minding it, I send power in and peek inside her.
Inside Chako, a black miasma seems close to rioting as it spins in an oval shape.
Surely, she’s frantically suppressing the power that’s close to rioting.
I start to interfere with that spinning black miasma by sending power gently, the way Tomoyuki-san taught.
Chako’s power is different from normal phantoms.
I can’t suppress or grant her power on a fundamental level.
However, I can at least adjust its flow.
The method Tomoyuki-san used when Sensei’s power was transferred to Kousuke-kun.
Tomoyuki-san told me about it.
So that I can help Chako feel better, even just a little.
Stroking Chako’s back slowly, I adjust so that the oval becomes more of a circle.
Chako probably feels her power calming down a little.
Her body that was stiff at first relaxes and she breathes.
“W, hy…”
Chako’s grazed voice resounds.
“Why… of all, people… It was Yui-chan who came?”
A pained voice.
Stiffly and tightly closed eyes.
A line that seems to blame me.
As though to say “Stop it”.
As though to say “Leave me alone”.
Chako’s desperately trying to distance herself from me.
“Chako, I, said I won’t wait, didn’t I?”[1]
You can’t, Chako.
You can’t go
“I will continue to attack even if you don’t resolve yourself, Chako.”
“… You did say that.”
Listening to Chako’s grazed voice, I strengthen my hold on her.
“Un. I won’t stop even if you ask me to. I won’t leave you alone even if you ask me to.”
That’s why, Chako.
Prepare yourself.
Tell me everything.
“I, want to know about Chako.”
I turned back time again and again, and arrived here.
I got everyone involved, and swayed Chako continuously.
All of it, all of it.
Was surely for today.
“Please tell me… Please tell me, Chako.”
If I let her escape today, there’s no next time.
My voice becomes grazed when I think that.
It sounds so unreliable…
Chako gives a small sigh at my miserable voice.
“Oh… well.
The sound of Chako’s resignation fills the air.
“Fine, Yui-chan…”
Muttering “I was planning to escape till the end though”――
Chako chews her lips once.
Then, conveying slowly with a trembling voice.
“… I. Lied, to Yui-chan.”
She mumbles softly.
[1] Chapter 21.2
The words Chako’s finally willing to say.
『Lied to』
“Yui-chan, I’m, a phantom… I’m just here because Tomotaka-sama ordered me. He told me to get close to Yui-chan. I only became your friend because I was told to obstruct the phantoms that approach you.”
With her eyes closed tightly, Chako conveys indifferently and emotionlessly.
I know.
I know everything, Chako.
I know everything she said.
Even then, having Chako tell me herself pricks my chest with pain.
“Un.”
I give a small nod while holding my hurt chest.
Hearing such a voice from me, Chako chews her lips again before speaking.
That voice somehow seems to sound irritated.
“I don’t have to right to have Yui-chan treat me like this. Plots and schemes. They’re why I’m with Yui-chan.”
“Un.”
“My feelings aren’t pure. They’re dirty, and dark… Not suitable for Yui-chan at all. I’m the worst friend.”
“Un.”
“All I did was obstruct Yui-chan. Because of me, you’re dealing with troubles you don’t have to…!”
So go away.
Surely, that’s what Chako’s saying.
However, I hug Chako even tighter.
I won’t leave.
I won’t let you be alone anymore.
I only nod at Chako’s words.
“Un.”
Sorry. Sorry for letting you be alone for so long.
The 1st round, I didn’t even realise Chako was shivering here alone.
The 2nd round, I lost to my own heart and abandoned Chako even though she was suffering in front of me.
The 3rd round, I only watched Chako run off from afar.
The 4th round, I had my hands full with myself and didn’t even make it to the Cultural Festival with Chako.
In the 5th round, even if I made it to the Cultural Festival, I would probably have not cared and pretended that it wasn’t my business.
I’m no good at all.
I didn’t even realise this even though I want to save Chako.
That Chako’s here alone.
She’s here, golden eyes trembling.
I shouldn’t have left such a Chako alone.
“… Don’t go “Un”. You can be more angry… say I’m the worst, say you hate me…”
You can be more angry too, Chako.
“Un.”
“… What do you mean by “Un”.
“Un.”
“… Idiot.”
“Un.”
“Softhearted.”
“Un.”
“Overbearing.”
“Un.”
“… Idiot.”
“Un.”
“Idiot.”
“Un.”
“Idiot.”
I suddenly feel a gaze as I listen to Chako while stroking her back.
Looking down, Chako’s golden eyes are shaking as they look at me.
Ah. Gold is pretty too[1].
“Chako. It’s okay. It’s totally okay.”
I chuckle while looking at those eyes.
“There’s no way I’ll hate Chako because of that.”
When I say while looking firmly at the golden eyes, Chako’s eyes widen greatly.
If I can hate you because of that, I’d have come to hate you long ago.
I’m working so hard because I can’t give up on you, Chako.
“Also, Chako, you said nothing but “idiot” by the end, you know?
When I laugh playfully, Chako laughs with a face on the verge of tears.
Then, her golden eyes close slowly.
The back of the club building is shadowy and the sunshine doesn’t reach.
The Cultural Festival venue is far too, so we can barely hear the bustle.
There’s only Chako and I.
I hug the Chako sitting on the ground.
The skirt of my uniform is stained with dirt and a strong wind blows at times.
I part my body from Chako, and grasp my own hand.
Nails eat into the back of my hand.
I take a deep breath, once, while feeling that pain.
“Chako… um, there’s something I must tell you too.”
Chako finally told me.
Of her own volition, she said that she’s Tomotaka-senpai’s familiar.
My heart hurt a little from that, but I think I received it properly.
A ‘me’ that was able to be with Chako without being shaken.
Because I already knew.
That Chako’s a familiar.
I wanted to be such a ‘me’, who isn’t easily shaken, to Chako. But I’m not.
Chako said she was dirty, but I’m the same.
I’m surely much dirtier than Chako.
“I knew… that Chako’s a familiar.”
“… Sure enough.”
”As expected”, goes Chako as she breathes out.
I give a small nod to that, and mutter “Sorry”.
“But, I wasn’t able to tell Chako… Because I thought that we wouldn’t be able to grow close if I told you.”
“… I see.”
“I… wanted to be close to Chako. I wanted, to do lots of fun things.”
“… Didn’t you hate it? I, tricked and approached you, you know?”
Golden eyes looking at me questioningly.
“Although I thought that Yui-chan might have known about me… but, maybe not why I approached you… So, I thought that maybe you don’t know after all. But…”
“Un. I knew. Even then, I want to be with Chako.”
Chako’s words become abstruse midway.
I nod to that and supplement my words.
“When I first knew Chako… as expected, I thought that I was betrayed. I thought that you were awful.”
Chako has been lying.
My heart had hurt the more I thought about that.
Even more so… because our time together was fun.
“… I, like it when everyone gathers. For example, playing games at Tomoyuki-san’s house or eating snacks.”
Eating popsicles, and going to the pool.
I really enjoyed myself.
I’m glad I didn’t give up, in the 5th round.
I’m glad I’m greedy.
“So, lies or truths. Leave those aside.”
I chuckle at the golden eyes that stare at me motionlessly.
“There’s no one who only lies, or only say the truth. Everyone, while shouldering various things, are doing what they can in their respective standpoints.”
Yes. It’s not just Chako.
Everyone and I have things we can tell others.
“Even if everyone lies… we gather to play like this right now. I like that. I want to stay together from now on.”
It’s not important whether the days with everyone are lies.
“It’s okay to know only one side of everyone. I’m fine if I enjoy it and want to be together. I believe you all whom I think of that way.”
If you want to be with someone, you can only believe them.
Because there’s no point doubting or condemning them.
“I know, about Chako. It may be just one side but… Even then, Chako gave me lots of smiles. Gave me a lot of happiness.”
Chako protected me.
It’s unnecessary to negate all our days because there were lies… or secrets.
“I want to be with Chako. That’s why… I’ll believe Chako.”
I smile with all I have but, it may have turned a little weird.
Pathetic, huh?
Why didn’t I believe Chako immediately in the 2nd round?
Always unerring, and able to pick out the right answer immediately.
I wanted to be like that.
I, have been full of mistakes.
I finally arrived here after detours.
“I won’t let you be alone anymore. For sure.”
For sure.
Wanting to convey my feelings better, I seize tightly the hands Chako crossed in front of her knees.
After Chako stares at such a me, she laughs with a face on the verge of tears.
“… I wonder why, Yui-chan’s here for me.”
“… Because Chako is here for me.”
Then, that line again.
I laughed “It can’t be helped, huh?” and repeat the same words.
Chako nods to that, with a small, “Un.”
“Yui-chan… There’s something I want to tell Yui-chan.”
Golden eyes sway anxiously.
That’s why, wanting to convey that it’s okay, I strengthen my hold on her hands.
“Chako can tell me anything, if it’s about you… Because I’ll, believe it all.”
“Un…”
Chako breathes out a little at my words.
Then, after closing her eyes once, they open and look at me.
“Yui-chan… I want to tell you my secret.”
[1] The villainess’ eyes are blue.
